Control apparatus



3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W. A. RAY

CONTROL APPARATUS Filed May 20, 1941 Aug. 14, 1945.

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' CONTROL APPARATUS 3 SheetsSheet 2 Filed May 20, 1941 7 3 9% a w 9 -2 W? Z Ill- Wm, a? C 4 F 5 4 1 4 Z 5 7 M A/m L (Ittomeg Aug. 14, 1945. w. A. RAY 2,381,926

' CONTROL APPARATUS 1 Filed May 20, 1941 s Sheets-Sheet s 3nnentor, MAL/AM A. PAY

14 I attorney Pmnted Au 14,1945

CONTROL APPARATUS I William A. Ray, Glendale, Calif.

Application May 20, 1941, Serial No. scam 11 Claims. (Cl. 74-1) My present inventionrelates to control apparatus and particularly to improvements in ap paratus of the-type wherein means are provided for preventing actuation of a, control device, such as a closure member, switching means, or the like, in the absence of a condition which should be established before the device is actuated. Such a condition may be, forexample, one of predetermined temperature or pressure, or existence of flame at a.pi1ot burner. Upon undesired change in the condition after the device is actuated, it is automatically returned to; a safe. position.

'It is an object of my present invention to provide, in control apparatus ofthe type indicated, yieldable means continuously interconnecting the device to be actuated and a member for actuating the same, which means can be rendered unyielding only 'while a predetermined condition exists.

Another object is to provide, in control apparatus of the type indicated, a plurality of continuously-interconnected and normally relatively-movable elements whereby movement .of the actuating member can be transmitted to the device to be actuated-only when the relative movement of one of the elements is limited.

Another object is to provide, in control ap- Figure7 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Figure 8 is a chart indicating the relative angular positions of the actuating member at various points of actuation; and

Figure 9 is a generally diagrammatic view of a gas burner control system including the valve shown in the other figures.

In the drawings, the numeral II indicates a valve casing having an inlet l2 and an outlet I3 separated by a partition I4, in an opening in which'is threaded a valve seat member l5. Provided over an opening in the upper surface of the casing is a cover member l6. Extending from a right-hand upper surface of the cover (Figs. 2 and 3) is an elongated bracket I1. As best seen in Fig. '7, the thickened upper portion I8 of the bracket is bored to receive a shaft l9,

. to a reduced right-hand portion of which is separatus of the type indicated, a gear system of the planetary type continuously interconnecting the device to be actuated and the actuating member.

Other objects and advantages of the inven-- tion will be found in the description, the drawings, and the appended claims.

For complete understanding of the invention,

reference may be had to the'following detailed description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of a fluid control valve embodying my invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along the 'line -22 of Fig. 1 showing the parts in their of Fig. 4 butshowing the parts in the positions which they assume at an intermediate point of actuation;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken generallyalong the line 6-8 of Fig. 3;

cured, by a, nut 20, an indicating disk 2 I. Pressed the back in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, by a torsion spring 24 secured at one end to the bracket I1 and at its other end to the cam plate, pins 25 and 26 limiting the rotation of the shaft by respective engagement with a lug 21 extending from the upper surface of the bracket portion I8.

A free fit on a reducedcylindrical left-hand end portion of shaft I9 is an idler gear 28, axial movement of .which is limited by the shoulder of squared portion 29 and a nut 30 threaded on the left-hand extremity of shaft I9. Interposed between the gear and the nut, and a free fit on shaft I9, is a plate 3|, the outer end of which is bent to provide a U-shaped portion 32 which serves to maintain, intermeshed with a portion of gear 28, a gear rack 33 provided on the upper ries at its bottom a main closure member 35 oooperable with the seat member I5. Biasing rod 34 downward, and the closure member toward its seat, is a compression spring 36.

Pivoted on a pin 40 extending from the lefthand, or rear, surface of cam plate 22 is a gear segment 4| which intermeshes with another portion of idler gear 28. Integral with and extend- The shaft I is biased in a clockwise direction, as viewed from 1 order to efi'ect actuation';

14! in the rotation of plate 22.

ing from a rear portion of the segment is a finger 42. when the shaft I9 is rotated from its normal position shownin Figs. 3 and 6, to which it is biased by spring 24, gear segment 4| is rotated about its pivot since the idler gear 528 is held from rotation by the engagement therewith of rack 33, which in turn is restrained from movement by the force of bias spring 36. It is thus seen that when segment 4| is free to rotate, rotation of shaft I9 does not effect actuation of the closure rod 34; the gear, rack, and segment constituting efiectively a. planetary gear system. It will be understood therefore that in ftthe closure member it is necessary to ,limfith v'ement of segment 4| with respect mam plate 22; means for so doing hereinafter being described.

Extending from the upper surface of cover I6 is a pair of brackets 45, the upper ends of which serve to support a rod 46. 'Pivoted on this rod, with their respective opposite-end supporting ear portions 54', 55', and 56 in abutting relation, are

three relatively movable lever 54, 55 and 56.

Carried by the extremity of the upper A-shaped arm portion 41 of lever 54 is a disk-shaped armature member 48, rockably mounted thereon and cooperable with the pole faces of a U-shaped core 49, on one leg of which is provided an energizing coil 50, the leads 5| of which extend to terminals 52 insulatingly mounted in a side wall-oi a housing 53 provided for the enclosure of the parts. The electromagnet, comprising core 49 and coil 50, is rigidly mounted on a bent upper extension of the bracket H. The lower end arm portion 51 of lever 54 is bent laterally below its pivot on rod 46 and is provided with upwardlyturned portions 58 and 59 between which a roller 60 is pivotally mounted on a pin 6|. Roller 60 normally rests on the lower right-hand concentric edge portion of cam plate 22. When the plate 22 is rotated from its normal position as shown in Fig. 6, the roller is depressed by its engagement with an eccentric projection 62 formed on the: edge of the plate, thereby rocking lever 54 so that its arm 41 assumes a vertical position (as shown in Fig. 2) with armature 48 in engage-' ment with core 49. If the core 49 is energized the armature 48 will be magnetically retained in engagement therewith, thereby holding lever 54 against the force of a spring 63 compressed against arm 51 of this lever.

In the movement of arm 41 to its vertical position, lever 55 is carried therewith, the upper portion of this lever normally being held in engagement with the cross-bar 64 of arm." by the force of a spring 65 compressed between the upper end of lever -and a bracket 66 turned up from the arm 41. Rivetedto the cross-bar 64' of arm 41 is a. laterally extending pin 61, the free end of which, when arm 41 is in vertical position, is adapted to be engaged by the finger 42 of segment Riveted to an intermediate upper portion of lever' 55 and extending through the opening below cross-bar 64 of arm 41 is a pin 68, rectangular in crosssection, the free end of which is adapted to be engaged by either of catches 69 or 10, formed on the rear surface of cam plate 22, when this plate is rotated and arm 41 is in vertical position withtalever 55 heldin. engagement therewith, as will'further'be described in connection with the operation of the device.

The other lever 56 comprises a horizontal arm 15 (bestseen in Fig. 7) the freeend portion of which-is upwardly bent to provide a finger 16 which is adapted to engage the undersurface of an additional cam li'formed as an extension of the front surface'of plate 22. Engaging the underside of arm 15 is the upper end of a supplemental valve 'stem 18 which extends downwardly-through-an opening in the cover 66 and is provided at its lower end with a supplemental valve head 18' cooperable with a valve seat 88 formed around an opening 8! in the bottom of a thickened portion of the cover. The opening 8| communicates by a passageway 82 with the periphery of the cover i6, a fitting 83 being provided for connecting the supplemental valve to supply fuel to a pilot burner 84 shown in Fig. 9. The supplemental valve head 19 is urged to closed position by a spring 85 compressed between gland nut 86 and a washer secured to the upper end of stem 18; the force of this spring also .serving to hold finger iii in a position wherein tinguished, theparts will be in the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 6 dueto the deenergization of coil 50. To initiate operation of the burner system, knob 23 is turned in the direction of its arrow so that plate 22 is rotated in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 4, 5 and 6. In. the rotation of knob 22, successive legend-bearing portions of disk 2| become visible through a window 89 formed in the front wall of housing 53. These legends are shown in Fig. l and are intended for the guidance of the operator in setting the device. When, in initiation of operation, the legend Pilot on" appears, the knob is manually retained in that position, the various parts being in the positions shown in Fig. 5 with the supplemental valve head 19 in open position due to the engagement of finger 16 with the enlarged concentric portion of cam 11, which engagement eifected downward movement of the supplemental valve stem through arm 15. In the movement of the parts to Pilot on" position, by the engagement of cam projection 62 with roller 66, am 41 was brought to vertical position with armature 48 in engagement with core 49. Gas now flowing to the pilot burner 84 is lighted and,

when the thermoelectric device 88 has become sufilciently heated to generate current in an amount sumcient to cause core 48 to magnetically hold armature 48, the knob may be released.

When this is done, the parts, under the influence of spring 24, tend to reassume their normal positions. However, movement in'that direction is arrested by the engagement of catch 16 on plate 22 with the pin 68, which pin was moved into engaging position when arm 41 was brought to vertical position and is now magnetically retained in that position due to the force of spring 65 which holds lever 55 (to which pin 68 is attached) in engagement with arm 41. With the parts in the 'positions now assumed. ,flnger 776 .still being on the enlarged portion of cam ll,

fuel continues to flow to the pilot burner, which condition is indicated by the appearance of the legend Pilot lit in the window.

If, for some reason, it should now be desirable by depressing a push button 9| provided in an opening 85 (Fig. 7) formed in the outer end portion of stem Is to which knob 23 is secured. This button is mounted on a rod 92 which extends through a central bore in stem is and is provided beyond the left-hand end of the stem with a head 93 which is adapted to engage an upper end portion of lever 55, the head passing through an open area of arm 41. Button 9| is biased outwardly by a spring 94 compressed between the button and a shoulder formed at the inner end of opening 95. When arm 41 is in its magnetically held position, depression of push button 9| moves lever 55 with respect to arm 41 against the bias of spring 65 so that pin 68 is moved out of engagement with catch I0, thereby permitting the parts to return to their normal position which is then indicated by the legend if." Finger I8 now being out of engagement with the enlarged portion of cam 11, the supplemental valve is closed. Due to the resultant extinction of the pilot burner flame, the thermoelectric device starts to cool. However, under ordinary conditions, current will still be generated for a period of about 30 seconds in an amount sufficient to magnetically retain the armature in engagement with the core. Should reactuation of the device be attempted during this period, such actuation will be prevented by the engagement of the catch I with fingers 88, both sides of this catch being straight as indicated. when, due to suflicient cooling of the thermoelectric device, arml'l is released, reinitiation of operation of the device may be effected as described above, pin 68 now being 0 t of the path or movement of catch I0 (until after passage of the same).

With the parts in Pilot lit" position, continued rotation tion will bring the finger 42 of the gear segment ll into engagement with pin 61. Alter such engagement, continued rotation of the knob will causethe segment to rotate the idler gear 28 which, by its engagement with rack 33, willeflect upward movement of the main closure stem it against the biasof spring 38. Toward the limit of rotation-of plate 22, the other catch 69, because of its inclined leading edge, will pass pin GI, lever 55 being momentarily moved out of engagement with arm 41 in this movement. There.-

fore, when the knob is released, the parts will be retained in the positions shownin Figs. 2 and 4, with the straight side of catch 69 in engage-' positio as indicated both the main valve ment with pin 68. In this by the legend Burner on," and the supplemental valve are in open position.

Should it be desired to close the main burner valve; while holding knob 23, push button 0! is momentarily depressed sufliciently to release catch 5' and the parts are then permitted to return, under the bias or spring 2!, to the Pilot lit" position with catch in engagement with pin 68. Failure of the pilot burner flame, while the device is in either "Burner on" or Pilot li position; effects return of the device to its "01! position due to the release of catches 69 and 10 when arm 41 is released upon deenerglzation of the holding core, the bias springs of both the main and supplemental valves then being effective to return the valves to closed position. If, without lighting the pilot burner, the knob is turned to the Burner on position, actuation of the main closure member will not be elected since rotation of segment 4| is unimpeded. and upon release of the of knob 23 in its operating direc knob the parts will immedi atel'y return to their normal positions. It will be noted that since the pilot burner is supplied with fuel in the Bumer on" position, if the pilot burner is then lighted and the parts are retained in "Burner on" position long enough to permit suflicient heating of the thermoelectric device, upon releasev the parts will be arrested in the Pilot lit" position, since in the backward movement of plate 22 the armature is momentarily brought into engagement with its core and is then magnetically held. It will be'noted that thecam surface of plate 22 recedesv at the lefthand side of projection at, so that when the electromagnet is deenergized arm 51 can fall away at any position of the cam other than that in which projection 62 is in engagementwith roller 60. If it were desired to hold the main closure member in positions intermediate its full-on and closed positions, that could readily be accomplished by providing additional catches positioned between catches 69 and 10 on plate 22.

While I have herein shown and described, by way of illustration, a specific embodiment of my invention as applied to the control of a fuel valve,

it is to be understood that the invention is also capable of various other applications and that modifications may be made without departing from thespirlt of the invention. I intend there fore that my invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims. 1

I claim as my invention: a

1. In a condition control apparatus: a device to be actuated, an actuating member, means interconnecting said device and said member and including a plurality of continuously-interconnected and normally relatively-movable elements, and means responsive to a condition of said apparatus which must be maintainedduring the entire period of operation thereof for so limiting the relative movement of said elements that actuation of said member efl'ects actuation of said device only while said required condigaged and normally relatively-movable driving elements, and means responsive to a condition.

of said apparatus which must be maintained during ,the entire period of operation thereof for so conditioning said elements that actuation of said member eflects actuation of said device only while said required condition exists.

3. In a condition control apparatus: a device to be actuated, an actuating member, means interconnecting said device andsaid member and including a plurality of continuously-interchgaged and normally relatively-movable driving elements, and means responsive to a condition of said apparatus which must be maintained dur-' ing the entire period of operation thereof for so limiting the elements that actuation of said member effects actuation of said device only while said required condition exists.

4'. In a condition control apparatus: a device to be actuated, an actuating member, means interconnecting said device and said member and including a plurality of continuo'usly-intermeshed and normally relatively-movable gear elements, and means responsive to a condition of said apparatus which must be maintained during the entire period of operation thereof for so limiting the movement of one of said elements that relative movement of one of said of said device.

' including a ing actuation of the limitation of actuationof said member efiects actuation said device only while exists.

of I said required condition 5. In a condition control apparatus: adevice to be actuated. an actuating member, means interconnecting said device and said member and including a planetary gear system, and means responsive to a condition of said apparatus which must be maintained during the entire period of operation thereof for so conditioning said system that actuation of said member eifects actuation 6. In a condition control appara tus: a device to be actuated, an actuating member, means interconnecting said device and'said member and including a planetary gear system, and means responsive to a condition of said apparatus which must be maintained during the entire'period of operation thereof'for limiting movement of an element of said system so that actuation of said member effects actuation of said device.

7. In a "condition control apparatus: a device to be actuated, an actuating member, means innecting 7 assaosc prevented; means temporarily moved, by the ini tial actuation of said member, to a position whereinrelative movement of said elements is limited; electromagnetic means for main said last named means in said position so that subsequent actuation of said member efiects actuation of said device; and means responsive to a condi tion of said apparatus which must be main 1 during the entire period of operation thereof for controlling the energization of said electromagnetic means.

11. In a condition control apparatus: a device to be actuated, an actuating member, a plurality continuously. interengaged elements interconsaid device and said member, said elements being normally so relatively movable that actuation of said device by said member is prevented, said member including means forming a cam, means momentarily operated by said cam upon initial actuation of said member for limiting the relative movement of said elements, electmmagnetic means for maintaining said lastterconnecting said device and said member and plurality of continuously-interconnected and normally relatively-movable elements, and means responsive to a condition of said apparatus which must be maintained during the entire period of operation thereof and effective in the initial actuation of said member to so condition said elements that subsequent actuation of said member effects actuation of said device only while said lrequired condition exists.

- 8. In a condition control apparatus: a device to'be actuated, an actuating member, a plurality of continuously-interengaged and normally relatively-movable elements so interconnecting said member and said device that only when the relative movement of at least one of said elements is limited does actuation of said member effect actuation of said device, means operated by the initial actuation of said member without efiectsaid device for temporarily establishing a condition that is a prerequisite of means responsive to a condition of said apparatus which must be maintained during the entireperiod of operation thereof for maintaining said last-named means in said condition-estab lishing condition so that subsequent actuation of said member efl'ects only while said required condition exists.

9. In a condition control apparatus: a device to be actuated, an actuating member, a plurality of continuously-intermeshed and normally relatively-movable gear elements so interconnecting said member and said devicethat only when the relative movement of one of said elements movement of said element, and

actuation of said device named means in said limiting condition so that subsequent actuation of said member eiiects actuation of said device, and means responsive to a condition of said apparatus which must be maintained during the entire period of operation thereof for controllingthe energization of said electromagnetic means.

12. In a condition control apparatus: a device to be actuated, an actuating member, a first and a second gear element carried respectively by said deviceand said member, an idler gear interconnecting said flrst and means responsive and said second gear elements. means operated by initial actuation of said member for temporarily limiting relative movement of said first element and said member,

to acondition of said apparatus which must be maintained during the entire period of operation thereof. for maintaining said last-named means in said limiting condition.

' member at a point 13. In a condition control apparatus: a device 7 o be, actuated, a rotatable actuating member, a

first gear element pivotaliy mounted on said eccentric to the axis of rotation of the member,'a second gear element fixed to said device, an idler gear interconnecting said first and said second gear elements, means operated by initial rotation of said member for temporarily limiting relative movement of said first element and said member, and means responsive to a condition of said apparatus which must be maintained during the entire period of operation thereof for maintaining said last-named means in said limiting condition.

14. In a condition control apparatus: a device to be actuated, an actuating member, means biasis limited does actuation of said member eifect actuation of said device, means operated by the initial actuation of said member for temporarily establishing a condition that is a prerequisite of the limitaton of movement of said element, and means responsive to a condition of said ap paratus which must be maintained during the entire period of operation thereof for maintaining the establishment of said prerequired ,condition so that subsequent actuation of said member effects actuation of said device.

10. In a condition control apparatus: a device 7 to be actuated, an actuating member; a plurality of continuously-interconnected elements interconnecting said device and said member; said elements being normally so relatively movable that actuation of said device by said member is ing said member to unactuated position, a plurality of continuously-interengaged elements interconnecting said device and said member, said elements being normally so relatively movable that actuation of said device by said member is prevented, said member including means formin a cam, means momentarily operated by said cam upon initial actuation of said member for limiting the relative movement of said elements, electromagnetic means for maintaining said last-named means in said limiting position so that subse- 0 'quent actuation of said member effects actuation of said device, means responsive to a condition of said apparatus which must be maintained during the entire period of operation thereof for controlling the energization of said electromagnetic means, and means for preventing the return oi- 2,381,920 said member to unactuated position under the influence of said bias while said limiting means is maintained in said limiting position.

15; In a condition control apparatus: a device to be actuated; an actuating member; a plurality of continuously-interconnected and normally relatively movable elements so interconnecting said member and said device that only when the relative movement of'at least one of said elements is limited does actuation of said member efiect actuation of said device; means, including a movoperation thereof, for maintaining said arm in said position, so that subsequent actuation of said member then effects actuation of said device.

16. In a condition control apparatus: a device to be actuated; an actuating member; a plurality of continuously-interconnected and normally relatively-movable elements so interconnecting said 25 member and said device that only when the relative movement of at least one of said elements is limited does actuation of said member eflect actuation of said device; means, including a movable arm, for limiting movement of said element when said armis in a predetermined position; means operated by initial actuation of said member, without eflecting actuation of said device, for moving said arm to said position; means. responsive to a condition of said apparatus which must be maintained during the entire period of operation thereof, for maintaining said arm in said position, so that subsequent actuation of said member then eflects actuation of said device; means biasing said device to unactuated position and said member to a corresponding position; means carried by said movable arm and normally effective, while the arm is in said position, to maintain said device in actuated position against the force oi! said bias; and manually operable means for releasing said last-named means, without effecting movement of said arm from said position, so that, by the force of said bias, said device is returned to its unactuated position and said member to a'corresponding position.

17. A condition control apparatus, as defined I in claim 16; including means, associated with said actuating member, for indicating the position' of said device.

WILLIAM A. RAY. 

